Industry News

Social network platform, Facebook, has announced plans to open a content review centre in Nairobi, Kenya.

The company will work together with Samasource one of the largest digital employers in East Africa in creating employment as well.

Facebook’s first content review centre in Sub-Saharan Africa will employ approximately 100 reviewers by the end of the year, who will support a number of languages, including Somali, Oromo, Swahili and Hausa.

The move comes after the company, was put under scrutiny for data and privacy violation.

Fazdai Madzingira, Public Policy Associate for content said: “Over the years, we have made significant investments globally, and locally in ensuring that people see the content they want to see, and are aware of what is and isn’t allowed on the platform. That’s why we have a set of Community Standards and last year published the more detailed internal guidelines around these rules. We want Facebook to be a place where people can express themselves and freely discuss different points of view, whilst ensuring that it remains safe for everyone.”

Commenting on the forthcoming opening of the centre, Ebele Okobi, Facebook’s Public Policy Director, Africa added: “This further highlights our commitment to serving the community of people using our platforms across Africa, as well as our commitment to continuing to invest and partner locally across the continent. I am delighted that through our partnership with Samasource we will be opening our first content review centre here in Africa.”

Facebook says its content review team members are assigned a queue of reported posts to evaluate one by one. Facebook says the reviewers are not required to evaluate any set number of posts — there is no quota they must meet when it comes to the amount of content being reviewed.

The content review teams include a combination of full-time employees, contractors and partner-companies located around the world, along with 27 third-party fact-checking partnerships in 17 countries. In addition to human reviews, Facebook uses AI and machine learning tech to identify harmful content.

“At Samasource we believe that giving work is the most powerful solution to ending global poverty. We use technology and private sector methods to measurably improve access to work and job training. As one of the largest digital employers in East Africa, we’re excited to partner with Facebook in Nairobi to help keep people on Facebook safe and continue our mission. Our team will receive extensive training and support, benefit from industry-leading facilities, and have the opportunity to advance their careers in tech through this partnership,”concluded Carolyn Komen, Samasource Program Director.

Source: itnewsafrica.com

Mobile communications industry body GSMA has proposed a crisis meeting to discuss a plan to ban Huawei 5G equipment in the European Union amid mounting industry concerns that such a move could set operators back by years.

The European Commission is weighing a de-facto ban on Huawei’s 5G network equipment for next-generation mobile networks due to security concerns, sources told Reuters.

Some Western countries, including the United States and Australia, have restricted Huawei  from building next-generation mobile networks and Germany is considering whether to do so.

GSMA Director General, Mats Granryd, had written to members proposing to put the debate around Huawei onto the agenda of its next board meeting, a spokesman for the federation told Reuters on Saturday.

The meeting will be held in late February on the sidelines of the Mobile World Congress, the industry’s biggest annual gathering, in Barcelona.

“It is to be confirmed for now,” he said.
As many operators are relying on Huawei to build out 5G networks, a de-facto ban would be a considerable setback for Europe’s efforts to stay competitive in communications, with implications for connected factories, self-driving cars and medical technology.

Deutsche Telekom has said it would set its plans to roll out the new services back by two years.

Source: Telecomspaper

Vodafone Ghana in collaboration with Facebook has launched a new data product as part of its strategy to promote access to reliable and cheap internet and reach underserved areas across the country.

Dubbed ‘Express Wi-Fi’ by Facebook, it is a product that helps retail entrepreneurs to offer fast and affordable Wi-Fi services at hotspots spread across the communities and residents at Jamestown in Accra, Nima, Maamobi and Abossey Okai.

Speaking at the launch in Jamestown in Accra yesterday, the Chief Executive of Vodafone Ghana, Yolanda Cuba said the product was to provide Ghanaians reliable internet at an affordable rate.

She explained that in the current technological work, no individual could be left behind without access to reliable data, saying, “Vodafone Ghana sees this extension of a strategy to ignite a digital revolution in Ghana by leaving no one behind.”

“It is certainly a demonstration of our strategy in action. We remain committed to making sure every Ghanaian becomes part of the data revolution, which currently represents the next stage of growth in this age of digital dominance. Affordability remains an issue for users in the underserved regions of the country, despite their high demand for data, and this initiative is the answer,” Ms. Cuba said.

The CEO of Vodafone Ghana said plans were advanced to extend the product to other parts of the country to enable the citizens to have access to data.

The Deputy Minister of Communications, Vincent Nii Odotei Sowah in his address lauded Vodafone Ghana for the initiative, meant to deepen internet penetration in the country. He said in this “technological age you cannot do anything without the internet,” indicating that currently Police, Military, and Immigration recruitment forms were done online and access to data was very critical.

Mr. Odotei said the government was heavily investing in digital infrastructure to help deepen internet penetration in the country and promote quality education delivery in the country.

Currently, he said, students easily do their research by accessing the internet for information without physically visiting the library.

Akumajay Mantse, Jamestown, Accra, Nii Ayikai III, in his remarks expressed gratitude to Vodafone Ghana for introducing the product at Jamestown.

He encouraged the people of Jamestown to take advantage of the product to expand and enhance their businesses.

How to use the Vodafone express WIFI

Connecting to the Vodafone express WIFI service is very simple.

Put on your WIFI on your smart device (phone, laptop, tablet etc) and connect to Vodafone express WIFI hotspot in any express WIFI connected community.

The Vodafone express WIFI portal will automatically open, which you will have to input your mobile number (either Vodafone or any other networks).

An SMS will be sent to the mobile number which the customer would use to log onto the internet to proceed to browse.

Every first-time user will enjoy a jumpstart data of 100MB and can purchase data from as low as GHC1.00.

Data packs can be purchased at the nearest branded and accredited Vodafone express WIFI retailer in your community.

 

Telecommunication giant, MTN, has commissioned the construction of a 24-unit classroom block for the Ghana Police Education System worthGHC1.6 million.

The project is aimed at supporting the education needs of Ghana Police Service and expected to benefit over 2,493 pupils annually.

It comprises of a head teacher’s office, staff common room, modern toilet facility and furniture.

In addition to the 24-unit classroom block, MTN will convert and enhance an existing library into an integrated library, which will have a hardcopy book area and an ICT centre.

Speaking at the event at Tesano in Accra, Chief Executive Officer  of MTN Ghana, Selorm Adadevoh said: “MTN values our relationship with Ghana Police more essentially for the safety and security we enjoy as Ghanaians. MTN Ghana has declared this year as the year of the customer and so we are enjoined by this to brighten our customers’ lives at various touch points and today is the beginning of our time with Ghana Police”.

Mr Adadevoh noted that MTN’s vision is to “lead the delivery of a bold new digital world and this facility, when completed, will have an ICT centre to bring the immense benefits of ICT to the students”.

MTN CEO added that the project is the 143rd investment of the MTN Ghana Foundation since its inception over a decade ago.

He noted that they are glad to have invested significantly in Ghana’s education with more than 82 educational projects across the country.

The Inspector General of Police David Asante- Appeatu, in his speech, explained that the Ghana Police Education System was ready to educate the children of the Police administration but it had become necessary to involve the general public.

He continued that since the mainstream duty of the police is to give security to the public, it made it logical for the facility to be opened to the general public.

He said the MTN assistance had come at the right time because when the old school was opened to the public, it led to the rise in student population, putting pressure on the old and weak facility and causing the quality of the facility to deteriorate, which made the police administration to think of entering into partnership with their key stakeholders, particularly MTN Ghana.

Source:myjoyonline.com

The Ghana Stock Exchange (GSE) is to work on the deployment of a mobile application for the secondary trading of listed securities.
Kofi Yamoah, the Managing Director of GSE said the Exchange would leverage on the approach of mobile money application, where investors could buy their shares and trade on the secondary market.
Mr Yamoah was speaking at a press briefing on the review of the stock market in 2018 in Accra.
He said “the GSE is looking at building on what MTN did in its latest IPO.”
He said the global stock market in 2018 suffered the worst year in a decade and nearly all African markets also suffered losses.
On global market environment, the MD said there were slower global growth especially in China and the political uncertainty and setbacks in the United State and Europe also affected the market.
He said the GSE composite index was flat at -0.29 per cent and the GSE financial index lost 6.79 per cent as compared to positive 52.73 per cent and 49.51 per cent respectively in 2017.
He said 2018 saw the telecommunication sector, now represented on the market by virtue of the biggest telecommunication company MTN, being listed on the market.
“Three non-performing equity securities were de-listed,” he said.
On factors behind GSE’s market performance, Mr Yamoah said inflation trended down and reached a single digit for the first time in over five years at 9.4 per cent in December, 2018.
He said new oil and gas field discoveries, means additional revenue for government as well as the satisfactory review by the international Monetary Fund of Ghana’s economy contributed to the performance.
He said the GSE’s market performance was also due to the continued strong investor confidence and interest in the Ghanaian economy, adding that, even though there were positives, the market also witnessed some negative like the pressure on the Cedi from a strong United State dollar leading to an 8. 39 per cent depreciation of the Cedi.
He said challenges in the banking and non-banking sectors, where seven banks failed in the last two years, mixed results of listed companies and securities sell-off by non-resident investors, due to rise in United State federal rates and profit-taking, affected the market.
Mr Yamoah said on the outlook for 2019, the GSE would facilitate the introduction of securities lending and borrowing and would improve market compliance by dealers and issuers through the use of technology such as a reporting portal.
“We will continue stakeholder engagements on GSE’s plans to demutualize in the short to medium term,” he added.
He said Vodafone Ghana should be made to go public to off load part of the 30 per cent in the company to enable the public to own a stake on the company.
He said adb bank shares re-possessed by the Bank of Ghana from entities related to Unibank should in the medium term be sold on the market to the public.
The MD said viable State-Owned Enterprises should be encouraged and allowed to raise equity or debt securities, based on their balance sheet, to better pursue their mandate.
“Ghana should have a formal and centralised reporting framework for forex trading for better price discovery in the foreign exchange market space.

Source:GNA

Governor Godwin Emefiele has on Tuesday revealed that MTN has paid $53 million to settle a money transfer dispute with Nigeria’s central bank and the matter has been withdrawn from court.

The central bank had ordered MTN and its lenders to bring back a total of $8.1 billion it alleged the company had illegally repatriated using improperly issued paperwork between 2007 and 2008.Emefiele said the money paid by MTN was a notional sum and that the company has been absolved from any wrongdoing, he said during a monetary policy meeting at which the bank left interest rates on hold at 14 percent.

Source:ITNews Africa

Vodafone Ghana has affirmed its resolve to strengthening customer care for the sustainable growth of the company.

Ms Yolanda Cuba, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Vodafone, said for that reason the company was working assiduously to roll out innovative products to address the needs of customers.

The company intends to introduce a ‘4G’ component to its line of services by the close of this year, and this was being pursued by the Management to bring their services to standard, she said.

Ms Cuba, who was inaugurating a new retail shop of the company at the Kumasi Shopping Mall, said Vodafone would continue to work to the satisfaction of the customer.  She was accompanied by Mr Puspinder Singh, Vodafone Ghana Director in-charge of Consumer Business.

The CEO indicated that the new retail outlet was to help expand its activities for the convenience of the customer. Mr Singh said the company had stepped up efforts to opening up more of such outlets to meet its growing customer base.

Source: GNA

The maiden edition of MTN Digital Music Conference has been held today January 17, 2019, in Accra.

It featured seasoned record labels and online music distribution platforms such as Universal Music Group, Content Connect Ghana and so on who ‘schooled’ artists and other stakeholders on how to make money from their music and stay relevant in the music industry.

At the event, artistes were duly advised to register their content with copyright societies such as GHAMRO in order to retrieve royalties and also prevent other platforms from unlawfully using their songs.

Speaking to this regard, Managing Director for Content Connect Ghana, Munya Chanetsa urged the general public to desist from downloading songs from unauthorised music sites.

He again recommended that artistes should try their best to collaborate with ‘giant’ industry players to enable their brand grow.

“Grow your fan base and find a way of working with major artistes so they can help you. The public should stop engaging in piracy. Stop downloading songs and stop feeding those sites”. He added

Senior manager for products and services for MTN, Mr Bless Agordjo also revealed that MTN has acquired an online music distribution platform known as CIMS which would enable their 200million subscribers have access to locally manufactured songs.

“We are here to help artistes so they can take advantage of our 200million subscribers. MTN has also acquired CIMS, an online distribution platform that would make music accessible and inexpensive to all”. He stated.

He went on further to note that a subscription model where mobile money can be used to purchase music would be provided so as to make songs accessible and affordable in the country.

MTN digital music conference brought together key stakeholders in the industry to discuss the state and future of Ghanaian music.

Source: MTN

Device vendors and operators are betting on 5G to unlock a new chapter in the smartphone growth story but new research from the GSMA suggests consumers will need to be convinced before upgrading. GSMA Intelligence’s annual consumer survey of 36,000 people across 34 key markets found that almost 90 percent of consumers in developed countries own a smartphone, with an average of 2.5 smartphones in every US household. More than half of consumers in developed countries (54 percent) said they expect 5G networks to deliver faster speeds, but it is not yet clear if they will pay a premium for the speed boost.

In addition, the survey revealed that only one in four consumers (25 percent) expect 5G to deliver ‘innovative new services’, and only 20 percent believe 5G will usher in a new era of devices.

Other findings include the fact that the average US and UK household now owns six connected devices – from TVs to consoles to emerging categories such as smart speakers – with 16 percent of US households owning a smart speaker, compared to 9 percent a year earlier.

However, adoption rates of VR headsets in developed markets stayed flat year-on-year at around 6 percent of households and have even dropped in some key markets such as the UK. AR applications in fashion, gaming and various enterprise sectors are more advanced at this stage, said the GSMA.

The industry body added that it will be using the data to publish two new GSMA Intelligence reports on ‘The Future of Devices’ and ‘5G’s Great Expectations’ at CES 2019.

Source:GSMA

MTN Ghana has pledged to prioritise the safety of mobile money (MoMo) agents as some in certain parts of Ghana have become targets for criminals in recent times. They have been attacked, maimed and in some cases killed, and their monies stolen. MTN said its officials have begun educating agents in personal safety, information management and how to avoid recruiting personnel who might pose a risk to their businesses.

General manager for mobile money financial services at MTN Ghana, Eli Hini, said processes are under way with the Central Bank to set up an agent registry. He said this will ensure that those on the registry are validated, and they would be taken off the system if they caught in any malpractice.

He said the company will take finger prints and do a thorough background check on people who want to become agents to ensure that they do not have any criminal records before setting up a MoMo business with MTN. He advised agents to stop working late into the night to save their businesses from being targeted by robbers.

Source: Telecompaper